Fancy a traipse around the shops at the Metro Centre on Wednesday?
Of course you don’t, not when the stars of Saturday night’s boxing spectacular in Newcastle are going to be strutting their stuff in Gateshead’s big retail and leisure complex (start 5.30pm).
All the fighters, well almost all, taking part in the five title fights at the Metro Radio Arena will be going through a free public work out in the Metro Centre’s Exhibition Square.
Co-headliners Josh Kelly and Lewis Ritson will both be taking to the ring as will their opponents, Kris George and Paul Hyland Jnr.
Sunderland welterweight Kelly (pictured above) challenges for the Aussie’s Commonwealth championship while Newcastle star Ritson can win the British lightweight title outright against the unbeaten Belfast.
Darlington’s Stuart Hall challenges Gavin McDonnell for the Yorkshireman’s WBC International super-bantamweight title while Middlesbrough cruiserweight Simon Vallily has a crack at Arfan Iqbal’s English belt.
There is a corker of a WBA continental super-flyweight contest as South Shields favourite Anthony Nelson faces Charlie Edwards.
Sunderland’s Commonwealth light-welterweight champ, Glenn Foot, does not have a title bout though he does have a six-rounder against Ricky Rose. ‘The Hammer’ will too be at the Metro Centre.
Only McDonnell will be missing from the cast, but nine out of the 10 title fighters is not a bad turn-out for the North-East public to get to see up close.
Here are the times:
Glenn Foot: 5.30pm – 5.40pm
Simon Vallily: 5.40pm – 5.50pm
Arfan Iqbal: 5.50pm – 6.00pm
Anthony Nelson: 6.00pm – 6.10pm
Charlie Edwards: 6.10pm – 6.20pm
Stuart Hall: 6.20pm – 6.30pm
Paul Hyland Jr: 6.30pm – 6.45pm
Lewis Ritson: 6.45pm – 7.00pm
Kris George: 7.00pm – 7.15pm
Josh Kelly: 7.15pm – 7.30pm
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Lawrence Lustig/ Matchroom
